STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

A little embarrassing (may have tmi)

Alikat · Kate Spade

Every girl has a different type of period... I think speaking with a gynecologist is probably the best solution if you are worried, they certainly can offer you the best advice!

Cricket · Gucci

That used to happen to me all the time when I was younger and used only pads. That was a long time ago (oh, maybe 17 years), but I'm pretty sure I remember getting up in the middle of the night to change them. I switched to tampons exclusively and that helped. Have you tried the overnight pads? I totally remember having that happen. Periods suck. Period.

Lilykind · Hermes

I had very heavy periods throughout my teens and hated sleeping through my periods because of ickyness on the pad. They were also really irregular. When I was 17 my ob/gyn told me I had polycystic ovaries and that my hormones were out of whack. I went on birth control and my periods were immensely better.

But it may not be that serious. Now that I use tampons almost exclusively, leaking has been a virtual nonissue. Overnight pads are also a good idea...I remember really like Stayfree's thin ones.

rosie_the_riveter · Gucci

Ugh, I used to hate that! When I was using pads (in my teens, and deathly afraid of tampons) I used to buy the I think it was Always with wings but they had extra length in the back so maybe they were the overnight ones. They were thin so that you didn't have all of that bulkiness. Like the other girls said though, switching to tampons has taken care of that problem. HTH

jacL · Coach

Try a tampon and a pad. Periods ten to be heavy at your age, but if you are concerned talk to your doctor (may sound embarrasing to you, but that is what they are there for).

ico · Dooney & Bourke

jacL wrote:

Try a tampon and a pad. Periods ten to be heavy at your age, but if you are concerned talk to your doctor (may sound embarrasing to you, but that is what they are there for).

I second this! Try a tampon and a pad, better if it's an overnight pad. Someone has mentioned always, the overnight version is longer but still thin.

Also, I put a bath towel over my sheets, to reduce the risk of "sheet damage", then I can just wash it with hot water and it's usually fine.

I found the problem improuves with time, but still now (I'm 31) sometimes I have to wake up at night and change. Mom and aunt have the same problem, so I guess it's genetic...

NCshopper · Hermes

This used to happen to me too until I got on the pill. Before I was on the pill my flow was super heavy, but since I've been on it the flow has lightened up a ton, as have my cramps, backaches, etc.

You're pretty young right? I ask because you may not have an ob-gyn yet, and going to one could really help. Depending on your relationship with your mom, you may want to talk to her about it and see if you can visit a doctor about it. If that's not feasible, I would wear a tampon and a pad at night and see if that helps.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

jacL wrote:

Try a tampon and a pad. Periods ten to be heavy at your age, but if you are concerned talk to your doctor (may sound embarrasing to you, but that is what they are there for).

thats what I was going to suggest too. I still have to do this. You'll sleep moch more comfortably too, since you won't worry so much about rolling over and knocking the pad out of place.

Elle · Hermes

I still have to do the tampon+pad thing for nighttime too. If you're not comfortable with tampons, defintely get the overnight pads.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Hey girl! Don't worry. I have the same problem. I just make sure to put on a fresh one and to position it more towards the back for when I sleep.

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

Another question is to those who used to have this problem did it go away when you got older? I am 16 right now so I wonder if it will stop when I get a little older?

A lot of you suggested tampons but I have never ever used those and am kind of afraid to!

Thanks so much girls for making me feel better.

Elle · Hermes

My flow did lighten up as I got older, and being on the pill helps with that too. I had really heavy/long periods for my first 6 or 7 years, though.

When you feel comfortable trying tampons, start out with ones that have either plastic applicators or coated cardboard (my favorite cardboard ones are Playtex Beyond). They are much easier/more comfortable to insert than regular old Tampax. Start out wearing one for about 4 hours during the day to see how the absorbancy works with your flow, and then you can always move to wearing one for 8 hours at night, w/ a pad to catch leaks.

Good luck !

wicked · Coach

My flow actually has become heavier as i've become older (to the point where tampons are useless to me), but my period now lasts four days instead of seven. I use the stayfree overnight and use an old towel to protect my sheets.

Metric · Gucci

Since I am the queen of TMI I'm not afraid to answer.

I used to have terrible periods as a teenager. I am a heavy sleeper and would wake up to a complete bloodbath in my bed. I used to have to wear these crazy disposable pad/undies almost like Depends. Once I started taking the pill I "grew" out of it. Now my flow is much lighter and I rarely even get cramps. Tampons also helped but I couldn't get the hang of wearing one until after I ...uh...y'know.

theotherjess · Chanel

LMonet wrote:

(my favorite cardboard ones are Playtex Beyond).

(begin TMI)

Ahh, I hate those ones. Maybe it's just me but they just did not work out.

Go for tampons. It was scary at first but it is sooo worth it. So much easier and you don't have to walk around feeling like you peed your pants all day.

(end TMI)

ejc423 · Coach

ranchera20 wrote:

Another question is to those who used to have this problem did it go away when you got older? I am 16 right now so I wonder if it will stop when I get a little older? A lot of you suggested tampons but I have never ever used those and am kind of afraid to! Thanks so much girls for making me feel better.

Mine has gotten so much lighter as I've gotten older. And it's really short too, like 3-4 days. That just happened naturally to me, even w/out birth control.

Also, tampons will change.your.life. I like the Playtex Beyond too. But I'm pretty sure they make some called "slimfits" that are plastic and may be easier when you're still new to the whole thing. I hope you will feel comfortable enough to try them, it totally helps with the icky period feeling you get wearing pads.